Sunday, November 4, 2007

Logo #100: Whitehouse

Designed by William Bennett and Steven Stapleton in 1980 - year of Channel 4, the Falklands War, the ascent of The Weather Channel and King Fahd (though not simultaneously), the slasher film joys of "Friday The 13th Part III in 3D," the premiere of "Knight Rider" and the deaths of The Amazing Criswell, Jack Webb, and Paul Lynde, found dead after a few days with the heart of an 80-year-old, generosity notwithstanding. This design comes from the insert of Whitehouse's 1982 "New Britain" LP. Mr. Bennett will be the first to tell you that this was in fact the logo for his record label Come Org. - but, as seen with the cover to Joy Division's "Unknown Pleasures" LP, sometimes the design transcends its original purpose and becomes inextricably linked with the public image of the band. Whitehouse are one of my favorite bands of all time, forever and ever. It's because of their inescapable sense of humor, really. "Thank Your Lucky Stars" is in reality a very funny song.

This is the hundredth logo in our survey of rock band logos. There are in fact over 900 more. That there are so many either means that I'm exceptionally thorough, or that I am exceedingly adept at scraping the top of various barrels hither and yon.

Here's a lovely and/or frightening Song of the Moment, "Gravity," for Natalie Portman for your delectation and entertainment while you wait for those other 900 logos to walk by in that proverbial pageant of life's riches.